Andy and Carl from Journey South reached the final of X Factor in 2005 and went on to have a half a million selling No.1 album. Their second album ‘HOME’ is in the shops and now they are Female First's X Factor pundits. Here's what the guys thought of last Saturday's performances:

"Niki was good but I quite like Beverley. Louis was moaning about getting the over 25’s but I personally think they’re the strongest category this year."

Andy – I’ve only just started getting into this X Factor series as for me it gets interesting once it reaches the boot camp and live show stages. It still gets to me everytime I hear the X Factor music on the live show it brings back such great memories from our time on the show.Carl – Yeah me too, I didn’t think there was much talent this time round, but I think there are a couple coming through. Last year it seemed that Leona was the clear winner right from the first live performance, which kind of took the fun out of it for me. but this year at least it is more of a mixed bag.

"Same Difference freak me out a bit but is it me or is the girl quite fit?"

Andy – This Saturday night was much better than the first week, as nobody really shone through last week, they all seemed too tense and scared. If I met any of them I would tell them from our experience, to just rehearse as much as possible and try and relax and enjoy the experience. It is such a once in a lifetime opportunity and such a buzz when you get out on that stage. We always tried not to think that that there were about 10 million people behind the camera and just performed to the audience as that was what we were used to doing before we went on the show. If I had to pick a favourite from Saturday, it would have to be Niki, they picked a really big song with ‘My heart will go on’ but she really did it justice. I think she is one of those performers who will get better as the series goes on.Carl – Niki was good but I quite like Beverley. Louis was moaning about getting the over 25’s but I personally think they’re the strongest category this year. Sharon’s group are definitely the weakest and I predict that she will be the judge with no acts in the final. I’m glad she came back after last week’s strop though, as apart from Simon, Sharon is my favourite judge. I’m wishing though that the judges would calm down a bit, they seem to be fighting for the headlines and the show should be focussed on the talent.

"Daniel and Alisha were the worst on the night and they were right to choose Daniel to go."

Andy – Yes people slag of X Factor, but it could and should be such a brilliant platform to launch a music career. I could never knock it as we would never have had the opportunity to release an album. Simon was an amazing mentor and we learnt such a lot from him during our time on the show and now we have released our 2nd album we have a lot to thank X Factor for.Carl – It was definitely one of the most brilliant times of my life, we watched our old shows rounds at our dads the other night and it all seems like a lifetime away now.

Andy – Yeah, even now I still like to hear Simon saying things like we are the best singers he has ever worked with and other great comments he made back then. I am still very proud of that. We were definitely his favourites, but we didn’t really know that till afterwards. I think this year he has a soft spot for Same Difference, he said on Saturday night that they will be in the final, but I don’t see that myself, they freak me out a bit, with all that constantly happy stuff. Although, is it me or is the girl quite fit?

Carl– She is quite pretty and I think it was a good choice of song as the whole High School Musical thing is so in with kids right now, but I have to say, I’d like some of whatever they’re on.. Andy – I thought that the bottom two of Daniel and Alisha were the worst on the night and they were right to choose Daniel to go.

Carl – The song choice for Daniel was just ridiculous though, what was Louis thinking?

Andy – Actually, a lot of the song choices were a bit dubious. I thought Andy was lucky not to be in the bottom two as Staying Alive was such a bad song for him and Lady Marmalade was too big for Hope, that is a true diva song and they were a bit lost with it. Also everyone keeps on about them being more together as a band but I still think they look and sound very mismatched.

Carl – Yes I think the boyband they put together are better than the girls, they all seem to have quite good voices and their harmonies work together, although again I think they didn’t have a great song choice.

Andy – If I had to predict the finalists for this year based on Saturday nights performances it would be out Niki, Rhydian, Futureproof and Beverly.

Tagged in